15 replies to this topic

[DamnCoffee]

So, anyone who is a regular browser of Tumblr are probably aware of the current craze. Shipping.

 

For those of you who don't know what shipping is, it's the act of editing, producing and writing about two characters in a loving and/or sexual relationship. Evidently, due to the popularity of Skyfall, people have started to ship Bond and Q. I've always had a problem with shipping characters. It seems a bit of an insult to both characters and the Bond series in general. Putting my sexuality aside, I'm bisexual, and proud of it, but since I have a great love for the Bond series, I think this is wrong. All I see in the 'James Bond' and 'Skyfall' tag these days are images of Bond and Q together, having some kind of meal, kissing, and edited images of them in bed together. 

 

I made a post about this last night on Tumblr, and ended up being personally attacked and berated by over 70 people. This ranged from being called a 'raging homophobic fanboy' to receiving the odd death threat, and being bombarded with general hate mail. It's such a shame because I was so happy that Skyfall gained a massive following on Tumblr, just because it's appealed to so many people. Sadly though, this is not the case. I still stand by my original comments 100%, because I have a massive love for the series.

 

I just wanted to gather other peoples views on this current trend? Should Bond and Q be shipped? Even though it's completely against the characters both on page and film. Granted, I completely accept that people can do whatever they like, because it's a free country. However, being personally attacked for hours over something I personally believe is wrong and have a great love for is rather insulting. 

[Jim]

 Granted, I completely accept that people can do whatever they like, because it's a free country

 

No it's not. If it is, Mrs Jim and I would like an aggregate of forty years' income tax back, please. Where do we form the queue? It won't be orderly.

 

I suddenly feel very, very old. Does this sort of thing really happen?

[Dustin]

Why the hell is this called 'shipping'???

 

That said, I remember having heard about Kirk/Spock stories of old, long before the internet even. Of course completely misinterpreting both characters there, the one being Starfleet's womaniser, the other up for it only every seven years. The male personnel of SHERLOCK seems to be a similar target now, for obvious reasons.

 

Frankly, I don't know how this could be avoided or how to set matters 'straight' again. People these days interpret their whole socio-cultural surroundings according to their own tastes, regardless of factual evidence in reality. Having Bond/Q fantasies even seems tame, compared to some of the delusions other people are up to on the net. And sadly in real-life too, I hate to say. 

Edited by Dustin, 24 June 2013 - 07:20 PM.

[thecasinoroyale]

Never been into Tumblr myself, and may get bashed for being "old" myself even though I'm 28 - but I don't get the idea of that shipping stuff, it seems totally un required and just a strange expression of fantasy and mockery of a series, actor (s) or film.

 

This has irritated me already just by looking and haven't got time for people into things like that and especially people who slate others for having opinons about how a film is treated with crass actions.

 

I did like your response quoting the "exploding pen" gag. Good work standing up for yourself.

[Hockey Mask]

As far as Skyfall being a subject...it is a sign of the movie's success.

As far as shipping...I have no clue what that is.

[Dustin]

This has irritated me already just by looking...

Which may be the whole point of it.

[tdalton]

This happens to pretty much every movie or TV show that ends up reaching a large audience and/or gains a following amongst those in the age group that predominantly uses Tumblr.  If Skyfall had a larger cast of characters, you'd see it for more than just Bond and the quartermaster, but given that Skyfall contains a relatively smaller number of central characters than other major blockbusters and hit TV shows, it may just be limited to the one being discussed.  I would say just be thankful this isn't a hit TV show with an ensemble cast that we're discussing here, as there would most likely be discussions of this nature for every single possible combination of characters.

[Dustin]

This happens to pretty much every movie or TV show that ends up reaching a large audience and/or gains a following amongst those in the age group that predominantly uses Tumblr.  If Skyfall had a larger cast of characters, you'd see it for more than just Bond and the quartermaster, but given that Skyfall contains a relatively smaller number of central characters than other major blockbusters and hit TV shows, it may just be limited to the one being discussed.  I would say just be thankful this isn't a hit TV show with an ensemble cast that we're discussing here, as there would most likely be discussions of this nature for every single possible combination of characters.

 

 

Completely agree. This stuff is a kind of meta-meme on the net. Unavoidably really. But not actually doing harm as such. 

Edited by Dustin, 24 June 2013 - 07:38 PM.

[tdalton]

 

This happens to pretty much every movie or TV show that ends up reaching a large audience and/or gains a following amongst those in the age group that predominantly uses Tumblr.  If Skyfall had a larger cast of characters, you'd see it for more than just Bond and the quartermaster, but given that Skyfall contains a relatively smaller number of central characters than other major blockbusters and hit TV shows, it may just be limited to the one being discussed.  I would say just be thankful this isn't a hit TV show with an ensemble cast that we're discussing here, as there would most likely be discussions of this nature for every single possible combination of characters.

 

 

Completely agree. This stuff is a kind of meta-meme on the net. Unavoidably really. But not actually doing harm as such. 

 

 

Agreed on it being unavoidable, but I disagree (but not entirely) with it not being of any harm.  Some of the more outrageous ones, the ones that would very clearly never happen within the actual confines of the story as told by the movie/show's actual hired writers don't threaten to have much harm on the project.  It's when "fans" get so caught up on the possible relationships that actually could happen in the story, but either haven't happened or are on their way to but the story hasn't logically reached that point, that there rests the potential for issues to arise that can either affect the creative integrity of the work or its reception amongst a certain section of its fanbase.  NBC's Chuck is a prime example of this.

[DamnCoffee]

 

I did like your response quoting the "exploding pen" gag. Good work standing up for yourself.

 

Thank you! The entire thing just infuriated me, really. There's a good 90+ notes on that post now, full of people slating me because I don't agree with it. Everyone I know is completely on my side, thankfully. They know how much I love the series, and they couldn't believe that my fandom was being questioned by people who probably have no idea about the Bond series. 

Edited by DamnCoffee, 24 June 2013 - 08:31 PM.

[Matt_13]

I've been reading your posts, Harkers. Not a huge fan of the shipping craze myself, but I suppose it's harmless, and also a way (though arguably not a great way) to get people interested in Bond. I think there's a way to hide it from popping up on your dash.

[Hansen]

Parody is OK for anything, but you have the right to dislike it without being insultd or threatened. Being considered as homophobic because you do not agree with the parody is just stupid. I can't stand these taliban of so called right-thinking

[Dustin]

This happens to pretty much every movie or TV show that ends up reaching a large audience and/or gains a following amongst those in the age group that predominantly uses Tumblr. If Skyfall had a larger cast of characters, you'd see it for more than just Bond and the quartermaster, but given that Skyfall contains a relatively smaller number of central characters than other major blockbusters and hit TV shows, it may just be limited to the one being discussed. I would say just be thankful this isn't a hit TV show with an ensemble cast that we're discussing here, as there would most likely be discussions of this nature for every single possible combination of characters.

Completely agree. This stuff is a kind of meta-meme on the net. Unavoidably really. But not actually doing harm as such.

Agreed on it being unavoidable, but I disagree (but not entirely) with it not being of any harm. Some of the more outrageous ones, the ones that would very clearly never happen within the actual confines of the story as told by the movie/show's actual hired writers don't threaten to have much harm on the project. It's when "fans" get so caught up on the possible relationships that actually could happen in the story, but either haven't happened or are on their way to but the story hasn't logically reached that point, that there rests the potential for issues to arise that can either affect the creative integrity of the work or its reception amongst a certain section of its fanbase. NBC's Chuck is a prime example of this.

This partially touches upon a discussion we've had here about the potential for harm in fan fiction in general. I can only repeat what I've said back then: I see that potential, only I see no realistic option how to avoid it. If you're a creative - and I suppose most people on the producing side of the industry are, in some way or other - then your aim is to get the audience's attention, involve them, make them care about story and characters. How they do that, well, that's up to them. You have no real control over that other than your original work. Whether that allows for development in the direction discussed here, whether such would be conceivably 'realistic' or parody or crass distortion of characters and events depicted in the source, all that is not within anybody's control. The most one can hope for is that future audiences are forgiving and that the circus moves on to another town.

[freemo]

Never heard of this until now. Seems very superhero comic / new Doctor Who-esque, following a franchise's characters and their "relationships" in a soap-opera kind of way and actively using them as  a subtitute for a group of friends / personal fulfillment. Kind of thought (well, hoped) that Bond was a bit apart from that sort of thing. Oh well, there are worse things in the world (probably).

[DamnCoffee]

Sigh.  This is still going on. 

[Hockey Mask]

I would drop the fight.  They are off having their good time not harming anyone.  You can easily avoid the situation and that just might be best for everyone.  The beautiful thing about our planet is every one of us have different things that float our boat.  The ugly thing about our planet is we often choose confrontation over freedom of others.  No harm, no foul.  I would think you would understand this more than most of us.